Reel information

[RH1]

Hey everyone

I got my late father's fly reels out this evening and really can't find much info on them but am curious of age.
I am going to clean them up good since i am certain they haven't seen water in atleast 20 years but Both seem to be working perfectly!
Any information about these 2 reels would be more than appreciated..

Thanks everyone!
Ron

 

[Bamboozle]

They should clean up nice and last you the rest of your life.

 

[RH1]

They should clean up nice and last you the rest of your life.

Am i right that the pleuger is a type of click pawl reel?

 

[Drifly]

Those older medalist reels have a shoe brake that applies pressure to a clutch. There is a pin on the spool that drops into a series of angled grooves in the clutch and is adjusted by that cream colored plastic knurled knob. The click and pawls commonly have a toothed gear that is contacted by a pyramid shaped pawl that’s either adjustable or fixed under a spring. If you push that sliver knob towards the plastic center hub the spool will separated from the frame and you’ll see the shoe brake assembly.

 

[Bamboozle]

To add to Drifly's post...

All Medalists "click," but only the Medalist 1492 and 1492 1/2 were true click/pawl reels. The mechanism on the rest are technically "caliper regulated disc drags" (not the same as modern disc drags) using a rotating disk with notches in it.

A coil spring loaded click pawl provide the "clicks" during line out by engaging the notches on the disk to provide resistance. It is a COMPLETELY different system than a true click/pawl reel but provides more resistance.

A true click pawl reel uses a flat or circular spring against a most often triangular shaped dog or pawl that "clicks" over the teeth of a check gear mounted on the reel spool. Adjustment (if there is any, is achieved by tightening the spring against the pawl.

 

[CinnamonJoe]

They should clean up nice and last you the rest of your life.

💯

 

[TimMurphy]

Hey everyone

I got my late father's fly reels out this evening and really can't find much info on them but am curious of age.
I am going to clean them up good since i am certain they haven't seen water in atleast 20 years but Both seem to be working perfectly!
Any information about these 2 reels would be more than appreciated..

Thanks everyone!
Ron View attachment 1641247951View attachment 1641247952

Dear RH1,

Put that Martin MG5/6 on your rod with the failed Redington and fish with your father watching you forever. That reel is all that you need for trout fishing!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[tomgamber]

I fished for a very long time with that same martin reel.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

All Medalists "click," but only the Medalist 1492 and 1492 1/2 were true click/pawl reels. The mechanism on the rest are technically "caliper regulated disc drags" (not the same as modern disc drags) using a rotating disk with notches in it.

prior to 1938, the first four years all models used pawls.

after that, clickers continued in the 1492, 1392 and 1592. in the 40s they dropped the 1300 and 1500 series.

in the 80s, the 1492 1/2 shows up (clicker) and a new 1500 series which is now the rim control. there was no 1592 in the modern 1500s.

Any information about these 2 reels would be more than appreciated..

the reel in the picture is basically just a 1494 with a 1594RC spool (they all were). any 1494 or 1594RC spool will work on it. the rim easily adds an ounce or more to the reel's weight, comparatively medalists weren't light and the RCs even more so.

like the martin, it'll work perfectly fine for just about anything. the drag is reversible with minimal effort.

 

[RH1]

prior to 1938, the first four years all models used pawls.

after that, clickers continued in the 1492, 1392 and 1592. in the 40s they dropped the 1300 and 1500 series.

in the 80s, the 1492 1/2 shows up (clicker) and a new 1500 series which is now the rim control. there was no 1592 in the modern 1500s.




the reel in the picture is basically just a 1494 with a 1594RC spool (they all were). any 1494 or 1594RC spool will work on it. the rim easily adds an ounce or more to the reel's weight, comparatively medalists weren't light and the RCs even more so.

like the martin, it'll work perfectly fine for just about anything. the drag is reversible with minimal effort.

Can you educate me on switching the retrieve from right to left?

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Can you educate me on switching the retrieve from right to left?

Remove the spool. Underneath you'll see there's a black plastic disc around the spindle with a series of indents, with a metal circle that sits in the middle of it. There are two flathead screws that hold the metal disc down.

Remove the screws, pull up the metal plate which will free the plastic disc with the indents on it. Do this step carefully because under that plastic disc is a hole in the frame in which sits a metal check on a spring and you don't want to lose it.

With the pieces now disasembled, flip the plastic disc over. so the other side is now up. Reassemble in opposite order.

 

[RH1]

Thanks everyone for all of the info.
Im excited to clean my dad's reels up and take them fishing.
I just ordered a spool of Cortland 444 Peach for both reels. One reel will have classic white backing and 1 will have purple backing.

 

[JimKennedy]

I believe they stopped making reels like that because they last forever, even if you break your fall with your reel hitting the rocks first.

They are a little heavy, but that’ll help you keep that rod tip up.

I also have one or two from my dad’s stuff and they’re in my go-to lineup of starting players every time I hit the water. Like one of the previous posts said, it’s the next best thing to fishing with the old guy. Miss him a lot.

 

[Skeet6]

Hey everyone

I got my late father's fly reels out this evening and really can't find much info on them but am curious of age.
I am going to clean them up good since i am certain they haven't seen water in atleast 20 years but Both seem to be working perfectly!
Any information about these 2 reels would be more than appreciated..

Thanks everyone!
Ron

I would put them in the 1980's or early to mid-90's.
Mike B

 

[PennKev]

I would put them in the 1980's or early to mid-90's.
Mike B

The Martin MC5/6 pictured in the OP could be found in sporting goods stores and Wal-Marts into the 2000's, and I don't think it was introduced until the 90's at the earliest. That Martin was preceded by a much nicer line of MC model reels that were made in the USA if I recall correctly. I have one of the older ones around somewhere.
I don't recall when exposed rim Medalists were introduced but they remained available at a pretty late date as well. There's a lot of info floating around regarding Medalists for those wishing to dig into the subject.

The older martins can be seen here: Martin MC Reels on ULFF Forum